Microsoft's Response to the Xbox360's Strange Wireless Signal Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Microsoft's Response to the Xbox360's Strange Wireless Signal Posted by XanTium | January 12 00:51 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From networkworld.com: [QUOTE] After 37 days, Microsoft issued 43-word statement on the report of a strange, strong radio apparently generated by its Xbox 360 game console, and noticed by Morrisville State College, Morrisville, N.Y. The entire statement, averaging about one word per day, is: "Any number of scenarios could account for wireless LAN disruptions in a college dorm environment where several electronic devices operate in close proximity. Xbox 360 complies with all applicable FCC regulations and we have not received reports that would indicate such a problem." The story described an anomalous signal discovered by the IT department at Morrisville State College, which has deployed a campus-wide 802.11n net based on equipment from Meru Networks. The IT staff were exploring the radio environment in one of the college dorms, using Cognio's RF analysis software. The software revealed a signal, in the 2.4-MHz band, that was quite strong and jumped around through many of the frequencies in that band. The signal was created even when the Xbox was not actually turned on. Barber speculates that it might be the continuing attempt by the console to find and connect to Microsoft's companion wireless handheld gaming controller. When Barber shrouded the Xbox with a static discharge bag the signal dropped noticeably but was still present, according to the Cognio scan. When the Xbox was unplugged from the wall, the signal stopped. Barber emphasized then that there was as yet no indication that the signal was actually interfering with the Morrisville WLAN access points or clients. But the IT staff discovered that in the presence of this strange signal, they had a problem getting their wireless Bluetooth headsets to associate with their Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. They had to actually touch the two devices together to set up that connection. [/QUOTE] Full Story: networkworld.com (3 pages)

[steveju]

So that's why my phone had trouble connecting to my PC...

...and it's GHz, not MHz

[koolkid1935]

2.4MHz band, what in the world would use that, even RC cars are above that!

Probably just a typo...

[pRtkL xLr8r]

Why hasn't anyone come to the conclusion that this is a bluetooth-type signal? My wireless mouse is bluetooth, and works on the 2.4 ghz band. The Wii uses bluetooth, so why not the 360's remotes? Fast response, good signal, small power drain...it's gotta be -- or some variant thereof. Of course Microsoft will play dumb -- they don't want anyone figuring out what they're doing for fear of hacking/unauthorized 3rd party add-ons, etc.

Now for someone to crack it like the Wii remote, and we're all set...

[Trevante]

Why hasn't anyone come to the conclusion that this is a bluetooth-type signal? My wireless mouse is bluetooth, and works on the 2.4 ghz band. The Wii uses bluetooth, so why not the 360's remotes? Fast response, good signal, small power drain...it's gotta be -- or some variant thereof. Of course Microsoft will play dumb -- they don't want anyone figuring out what they're doing for fear of hacking/unauthorized 3rd party add-ons, etc.

Now for someone to crack it like the Wii remote, and we're all set...

Just because the 360 uses the same 2.4 ghz band as bluetooth, it doesn't mean that it's using Bluetooth or any variant of it. With the exception of the frequencies being the same, there's no reason to think that there's anything Bluetooth about the 360. Besides, Bluetooth isn't special itself either. It's just another 2.4 ghz wireless connection also. The difference is that it has standards which allow it to be universal.

For example, you can't really connect your Xbox 360 to your 2.4 ghz cordless phone even though they're on the same frequency. The reason is because they're using different protocols to communicate on that 2.4ghz band. With Bluetooth however, enabled devices send signals that let other devices know that it is a Bluetooth device, and any device that understands the Bluetooth protocols will communicate them. The 360, your cordless phone, and your wireless B/G router, are all on the 2.4 ghz band, but do not use the same protocols to communicate, which is why they don't talk to each other.

Don't know if this makes any sense or not (it's 3:30 in the morning and I can't sleep), but being on the 2.4 ghz band doesn't necessarily make the 360 wireless similar to Bluetooth in terms of hackability.

[pleenmeel]

Well, I 'discovered' this signal over a year ago.. It interfere's with the analog wireless camerassytem i have setup to keep an eye on our (now) one year old.. At first i couldn't trace the reason why it wasn't working properly so i turned off anything wireless.. no joy.. then i physically pulled the powercord from the 360 et voila, no more problems with the cams.. Now i turn my box on and off by a remote controlled socket.. which cuts the power to it completely.

And the reason for this signal.. Since you can turn the box on and off with your wireless controller it's polling for one all the time.. even when in stand-by..

Nothing spooky.. just a bit of a questionable way of doing things..

This post has been edited by pleenmeel: Jan 12 2008, 11:05 AM

[Steve-0]

would it be possible to do a packet sniff or snarff as i believe the bluetooth equivalent is called if its a 2.4MHz signal?
it could open up some possibilities?
also would it be the same frequency as the wireless headset?

[Master Reefed]

I remember when 360 kiosks were first put into walmarts, and one of the stores turned em off saying it was interfering* with their bluetooth devices.

Everybody was like ,what a dumbass, xbox360 isnt even bluetooth.

anyone else remember this?

personally I think its a super stealthy signal sending pictures back to Microsoft of you playing in your underwear, everyone knows Gates is a perv! that little window next to the memory card slots, actually is hiding a 10 megapixel nanocamera. sneaky bastids

[mlapaglia]

Why hasn't anyone come to the conclusion that this is a bluetooth-type signal? My wireless mouse is bluetooth, and works on the 2.4 ghz band. The Wii uses bluetooth, so why not the 360's remotes? Fast response, good signal, small power drain...it's gotta be -- or some variant thereof. Of course Microsoft will play dumb -- they don't want anyone figuring out what they're doing for fear of hacking/unauthorized 3rd party add-ons, etc.

Now for someone to crack it like the Wii remote, and we're all set...

microwaves release energy on the 2.4 ghz range... does that mean the 360 could be a microwave?

popcorn and COD 4 at the same time FTW!

[Tiuk]

I don't really understand what confuses people about this. The 360's wireless peripherals operate in the 2.4 GHz band. This band is incredibly crowded (wifi, bluetooth, some cordless phones, microwave ovens, etc.). The 360 probably puts out a standby signal when it's off so that it's able to be turned on remotely.

Someone should test if the Wii or PS3 (if it can be turned on remotely) puts out a similar signal. If not, MS could have probably found a more efficient solution.

[kermit007]

Don't know if this makes any sense or not (it's 3:30 in the morning and I can't sleep), but being on the 2.4 ghz band doesn't necessarily make the 360 wireless similar to Bluetooth in terms of hackability.

You are correct that the 360 does not use Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a generic term for how the data is packaged, and sent. There is no hacking going on here. Just excess noise. Being that is is on the same public, and free of tax public use frequency though is what causes problems. Depending on intensity of the signals you can only have so many devices operating at once. God forbid you get a device like the 360 which will occupy one part of the bandwith, and not be intelligent enough to go to another frequency. To understand this better, imagine yourself in a dark room watching a TV, now place a 100watt light between you and the TV, your ability to see the TV as well will be highly diminished. Add more lights to simulate more devices, move them around etc. Different colors will have varying effects on the image your viewing. If you get closer to the TV though getting the light out of view you'll see it better (putting thw two devices together to sync).

Well, I 'discovered' this signal over a year ago.. It interfere's with the analog wireless camerassytem i have setup to keep an eye on our (now) one year old.. At first i couldn't trace the reason why it wasn't working properly so i turned off anything wireless.. no joy.. then i physically pulled the powercord from the 360 et voila, no more problems with the cams.. Now i turn my box on and off by a remote controlled socket.. which cuts the power to it completely.

And the reason for this signal.. Since you can turn the box on and off with your wireless controller it's polling for one all the time.. even when in stand-by..

Nothing spooky.. just a bit of a questionable way of doing things..

It makes no sense why the 360 would be emitting a wireless signal while off personally. When off it should be in receive mode only which takes considerably less power to do, and emits no signals. Then again that would require the 360 would have been designed intelligently instead of rushed. We all know the truth on that however.

[englishnamja]

we all know bill gates is working for the aliens... and ms (windows & Vista,XP) and xbox is just a way to get into peoples homes and re-program our brains via hi-frequency signals... and flickering of lcd monitors and lcd screens which our eyes can detect but our brain dismisses..... BE SCARED ITS A COMMING INVASION...


.... IM OFF TO SMOKE SOME CRACK!

we all know bill gates is working for the aliens... and ms (windows & Vista,XP) and xbox is just a way to get into peoples homes and re-program our brains via hi-frequency signals... and flickering of lcd monitors and lcd screens which our eyes can detect but our brain dismisses..... BE SCARED ITS A COMMING INVASION...


.... IM OFF TO SMOKE SOME CRACK!

we all know bill gates is working for the aliens... and ms (windows & Vista,XP) and xbox is just a way to get into peoples homes and re-program our brains via hi-frequency signals... and flickering of lcd monitors and lcd screens which our eyes can detect but our brain dismisses..... BE SCARED ITS A COMMING INVASION...


.... IM OFF TO SMOKE SOME CRACK!

[bucko]

nevermind thought it was on about the wheel, sounds like that campus is frying there students lol.

This post has been edited by bucko: Jan 12 2008, 06:58 PM

[murdoch2512]

I think they have a point. I have a video sender which operates at 2.4ghz. When my XBOX is plugged in the picture goes crazy. Unplug the 360 and behold a virtually perfect picture.

[Digital_sin]

the xbox 360 will make you sterile!
you heard it here first!